Home Highlights 2025 Nature at the Heart of Climate Action: A Regional Parliamentary Dialogue

Nature at the Heart of Climate Action: A Regional Parliamentary Dialogue

June 5, 2025 | Activity

To mark World Environment Day, ParlAmericas convened a virtual dialogue on June 5, 2025, to explore the role of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in addressing the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development. Held under the theme “The Power of Nature to Advance Economic Growth and Sustainable Development,” the session brought together parliamentarians, experts, and civil society representatives from across the Americas and the Caribbean to examine how NbS can support the effective implementation of the Rio Conventions through inclusive, ecosystem-based approaches.

The meeting was opened by Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, Margarita Stolbizer, Vice-President for South America of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Climate Change and Sustainability (PNCCS), who emphasized the need for legislative alignment with global environmental commitments and the importance of placing nature at the centre of sustainable policy.

An expert panel, moderated by Óscar Izquierdo Sandí, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica and PNCCS Vice-President for Central America, examined how NbS can generate environmental, social, and economic benefits. Panellists underscored the importance of community-led, gender-sensitive initiatives that promote ecosystem restoration and climate resilience, while highlighting the need for legal and regulatory frameworks that safeguard equity and prevent disproportionate environmental burdens on vulnerable communities. The discussions also called attention to the vital contributions of Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems in fostering long-term environmental stewardship.

A regional exchange session, moderated by Nelsa Shoraya Suárez, Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Dominican Republic and PNCCS Vice-President for the Caribbean, provided space for interactive dialogue. Contributions from parliamentarians and experts, including Mr. Ruben Contreras, Head of the Climate Change Section of the OAS Department of Sustainable Development, emphasized the economic dependence of the region on nature and biodiversity, further reinforcing the importance of environmental protection and innovative strategies for development that balance growth and sustainability, as well as the urgency of improving access to climate finance to support implementation of the Rio Conventions.

As he closed the session, the Honourable Joseph Isaac, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Dominica and ParlAmericas Board Member, shared national examples of NbS implementation and reinforced the need for continued parliamentary leadership to advance integrated, nature-positive development strategies.

This dialogue is part of a series of virtual meetings leading up to the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025. As COP30 returns to the Americas, ParlAmericas is promoting parliamentary engagement in this global process as a historic opportunity to bring the perspectives of legislators from the Americas and the Caribbean to the forefront of international climate discussions.

This initiative was made possible through the generous support of Global Affairs Canada.